Nodding in response, I close the distance towards Joseph. The hysterical smile never leaves my lips as I creep the blade up from his belly to his throat. My mind dances from option to option, landing on only one with satisfaction. Turning to Ghost, I jerk my head to ask him for assistance. He complies, coming to stand next to me.
“Hold his arms and head,” is all I say. Ghost moves behind the couch and collects Joseph’s arms quickly. He thrashes but is helpless to the position he’s held in. With one hand to hold his mouth open, I use the one holding the knife to carve out his tongue. His screams turn to gargles as he desperately tries to thrash away.
“That is for the lives you silenced.” I toss the chunk of flesh onto the ground. Next I remove his ears.
“That is for their beautiful laughs that will never be heard again.” I discard them the same as his tongue. My face must change enough for Joseph to notice because his fighting reachesan all time high. Casting my gaze up to Ghost, he has the same look and nods only once at the thoughts we must share.
“You better enjoy this Joseph. It’s an honor for someone like her to touch someone like you.” Ghost chuckles.
Smiling down at Joseph, I reach for his pants. Opening them with haste, I pull out his flaccid dick. My first thought is that it is small. Not even in the way that it could still be used. In the way that science would label this as a- my thoughts are cut off by Ghost.
“Oh my fucking god! You have a micro dick. Well isn’t that perfect. A small dick for a small man. Does it even work, Joe?” He laughs. His laughter is contagious, causing me to laugh alongside him.
“Ya know what? I was gonna cut it off but having that thing still attached is punishment enough.” I say, still randomly chuckling. Stepping away, I wipe the blade on my now bloody dress.
“Ready to go home?” I ask Ghost, entirely ignoring the sobbing Joseph below us.
“Always.” He responds. Smiling, he releases Joseph and comes to stand in front of me. Offering his hand, I take it and we leave the building. Out in the cool night, we stroll down the sidewalk covered in blood. To bystanders, we probably look like a pair of psychopaths but so what if we are.
We are each half of the same soul. Neither complete without the other. If one was to fall, the other would soon parish. The difference between Ghost and I is that when he thought I died, he went on living. For if he died, I would go with him. To chase him into the next lifetime, forevertransmigrating. Our souls will always be restless without the other because how can the moon rise without a sun to set.
Chapter Thirty Four
Another Tuesday Night
The smell of warm pastries float about the air within the kitchen. I pull the hot tray from the oven and carefully set it down on the marble countertop. The sounds of child laughter tugs a smile across my lips just as two little ones come racing through the kitchen.
“Slow down! No running in the house please!” I call out after them but the laughter that draws itself from my body is hopeless. Seeing such innocent happiness is infectious.
Just then, a set of hands are placed on my hips before lips leave a soft peck against my neck. Leaning into his touch, I turn to see Ghost standing behind me. He looks older now. Rough, salt and pepper stubble lines his still sharp jawline. He smiles and in return, I give him a gentle kiss on the lips. My heart feels so full in the moment that I attempt to ignore the blaring alarm coming from somewhere in the distance. Trying to grasp onto the moment harder, Ipush the sound away but it’s no use. One moment I am in utter bliss and the next I am in a pitch black room.
I sit up, absorbing my surroundings. Reality comes flooding back allowing memories to flow along with it. Just hours ago, we killed Joseph. We headed home, finished what we started in that room, and cuddled until we fell asleep. The alarm doesn’t help my still foggy mind that hasn’t fully recovered from the dream I was awoken from. Turning to its source, I find the screen on my phone flashing and my bed empty. Panic sets in as I look around for Ghost’s presence but don’t find it. Choosing to handle the alarm first, I collect my phone. James’s name displays across the screen in bold letters. Answering, I bring it to my ear.
“Hello?” I ask, voice still rough from my slumber.
“Get up. Ghost’s mom called him. Scarlett has gone missing. A Spanish mark was left on her wall next to her empty bed,” he states quickly.Fuck.
I end the call and leap out of bed. Wrapping my body in a displaced robe, I head out of my bedroom and down the stairs. It’s not until I make it to the armory that I find Ghost dressed in his mission gear with a bilious presence. No words could help the way he is feeling right now so I settle with standing beside him and collecting my own belongings. Once my outfit is in place and my weapons are stowed, I whistle to the dogs. Shortly after they are recalled, we head out to the garage wordlessly. Driving to the bunker in utter silence leaves me to roam my own thoughts. The Spanish Cartel is likely retaliating for what Ghost did in Spain but I am unable to help the thoughts of his father possibly being behind this. Would Dominic do this to his own daughter? He’s almost reasonable in wantingmedead but Scarlett is innocent. Could this be a trap?
“Is it possible that this is your father’s doing? I mean I can’t see why he would harm his own daughter, but is it feasible that he wants to use her as leverage to be used against us” I ask gently, hoping to not add to his already dismal mood.
“She’s not evenhisdaughter,” is all he says in a low voice.
“What? He introduced her to us as your sister.” Confusion is evident in my tone.
“She was adopted during infancy. She was the daughter of a rival gang’s leader. We wiped out their entire house. It was the one time he showed any kindness. He called my mother to say he found a baby. She begged him to bring her home…” he pauses for a moment before continuing.
“The first time I saw her, I knew that she was my sister. That I would do whatever it took to protect her from this world. To keep her safe.” His voice cracks for a second. Like this was the very thing he failed to stop from happening and it is. He vowed to keep her safe and now he feels like a failure.
“Ghost, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” I offer my support by running a hand along his thigh as both hands have the steering wheel in a death grip.
“How could you? I have all these thoughts. All the things that happened to you, happened to her.” A pang of pain shoots through me. Pushing down the memories, I force myself to swallow the knot in my throat.
“From experience, they won't touch her yet. They will want to break her down first.” I grind out.
“She’s a virgin.” He barely gets out the words but I know what he’s trying to insinuate.
“We won't let that happen. We will get there before they have a chance to…” I don't finish my sentence as I know he will get my meaning.
